Film packet for use with dental x-ray machines



9% 1952 1. SHAPIRO 2,614,225

FILM PACKET FOR USE WITH DENTAL X-RAY MACHINES Original Filed Oct. 2, 1946 Snventor Gttornegs Patented Oct. 14, 1952 OFFICE FILM- PACKET FOR USE WITH DENTAL X-RAY MACHINES Isadore Shapiro, Albany, N. Y.

Original application October 2, 1946, Serial No. 700,805. Divided and this application June 17, 1950, Serial No. 168,728

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a film packet for making X-ray photographs of teeth in a patients mouth, and has for an object to provide a patent of this type so constructed that when used in a holder for positioning the packet in the patients mouth, such, for example, as the positioning device disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 700,805, filed October 2, 1946, now Patent #2,525,959, for a Device for Positioning X-ray Film to Dental Cone, the film will be automatically centered with respect to the cone of the X- ray machine and the beam of rays projected from said cone.

Another object is to provide a film packet construction in which the films of diiferent widths may all be readily positioned and centered with respect to said cone and the rays projected therefrom.

Since dental films are made of difierent widths to conform to the varying concave surfaces of the maxillae, the position of each in the film holding and positioning device must be such that the central ray should automatically be centered in proiection in each case.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 700,805, above identified.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific de tails of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a detail section showing a tooth table and associated shaft for mounting the film pack, showing a pack in said shaft and in relation to a tooth on the table;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l, and showing one form of the film packet in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective broken view of an improved film packet which may be used for this device;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the film packet of Fig. 3 showing the difierent elements in perspective;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views showing the different shapes and sizes of film packets which may be used;

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the lower end of a film packet, and

Fig. 10 is a side view of an instrument which may be used for opening the packet.

As described in said prior application, the film positioning and holding device comprises a central shaft I of any suitable material, provided at one end with a transverse slot 2 tapered at its opposite ends 3 to receive the correspondingly tapered end 4 of the film packet 5. This shaft is mounted in a suitable supporting open-sided cylinder (not shown) on which is an extension forming a bite plate or tooth bite block I I at one side of shaft I. The shaft is provided with a reduced end I l to form a bearing for this end of the shaft. The film packet is snugly held in the slot 2, both in properly positioning and locating it in the mouth adjacent the teeth and gums to be X-rayed, and also to hold it in this position during exposure. As describe in said prior application, th apparatus is used by inserting the film packet in the slot 2 in the shaft I and positioning it in the mouth with the aid of the associated devices described, and then having the patient bite onto the block or plate II after the film 5 is positioned against the back of the teeth or gums or tissue.

A special film packet is designed for use in this device, although the regular film packet, as indicated at 5, may be used. This film packet has an extension II with inclined ends I2 to fit the inclined ends 3 of the slot 2 in the shaft I. By using this extension it can always be made of the same length with the same taper, regardless of the width and length of the film packet, and therefore film packets of different widths and lengths, as indicated by the dotted lines I3 to 82, of Figs. 5 to 8 may be used, each having the extension II to fit the slot 2 of the shaft I, and the center line of each film located on the center 1ine of the extension, as indicated at 83 in each instance. Any one of these packets of the shape and size indicated, when the tapered extension is inserted in the slot, will be automatically centered with respect to the slot and also with respect to a center line or locating mark (not shown) on bite block or tooth table II, and therefore when located in the mouth with this device and the cone positioned and aligned therewith as pointed out above, the center ray of the X-ray machine cone will always be in the center of the film for most accurate results and least distortion of the image.

In the film packet of Figs. 3 and 4, the intermediate element 84 is a sensitized film on the opposite sides of which are black sheets 85 of plastic or Celluloid to keep out light and give rigidity to the packet, or one of these may be plastic and the other black paper, depending on how much of this property of rigidity is desired. Back of the rear sheet 85a is the lead foil 86 to stop the X-rays, and this extends to the bottom of the sheets 85. The film 84 also extends to the bottom of the sheets. Outside of the forward plate 85 and the foil 86 are the outside wrappers 81 which may also be black paper. Each of the outside wrappers 8'! and the plates 85 are extended at their lower ends to form the extension 1|, as indicated, which, when the elements are all assembled may fit snugly in the slot 2 in the shaft l and be properly positioned and centered by the inclined ends 3 and 12, and the packet will be held rigid and fiat because of the rigidity imparted by the elements 85. To facilitate properly locating and centering the film packet it may be provided with a notch 90 preferably shaped as an eyelet, to snap over a pin 91 extending across the slot. This would also prevent the film from slipping out of the slot while the operator is inserting the positioning device in the mouth.

To facilitate opening of the packet for developing the film after exposure, it may be provided at its lower end with a thin tapered socket 81 extending inwardly from its lower edge between elements 85 and 86 and tapered to receive a similarly tapered head piece 88 of a small tool 69. It may have a substantially flat handle so that after insertion of the head 68 in the socket 8'! it may be turned or pried laterally to separate the elements enclosing the film 84, or in other words opening the packet, so that the film may be easily removed for developing. The edge of film 84 may be sealed with edges of sheets 85 with a rigid binder, such, for example, as shellac or a plastic cement, which by its beaded efiect creates the equivalent of a metal reinforcement, imparting additional rigidity to the film. It would not include elements 86 and 81', thus permitting insertion of key 88, so the packet could still be pried apart.

It will be clearly understood from the above that it is a simple matter to slip the film packet in the holding slot in the shaft and that this action automatically properly positions it therein, and it will be rigidly held in this proper position. Then the packet may be inserted in the mouth at the back of the teeth to be X-rayed and after the patient has bitten on the block II and the film released, it is automatically positioned at the back of the teeth and held in this position by the positionin and mounting device.

Having thus set forth the nature of my in vention, I claim:

1. A film packet for photographing teeth in a patients mouth comprising a sensitized film enclosed in a protecting covering, said packet including a body portion and a lower edge portion adapted to seat snugly in a slot in a supporting shaft, the ends of said edge portion being inclined downwardly and inwardly in opposite directions to seat on similarly inclined ends of said slot to position the packet in the slot with the body portion extending laterally from the shaft, said inclined ends of the film being located equal distances on opposite sides of the center of the film so that when seated in the slot the film is centered in the slot by the inclined walls of the packet. and the slot.

2'. A film packet for photographing teeth in a patients mouth comprising a sensitized film enclosed in a protecting covering and including an edge portion. adapted to seat snugly in a slot in a supporting shaft, the ends of said edge portion being inclined in opposite directions to seat on similarly inclined ends of said slot, one edge of the packet being provided with a fiat recess between the covering on opposite sides of the film adapted to receive a similarly shaped end of a tool to pry the covering apart to release the film for developing after exposure.

3. A film packet for photographing teeth in a patients mouth comprising a sensitized film enclosed in a protective covering, said packet including a body portion and a lower edge portion adapted to seat snugly in an elongated slot in a supporting shaft, the end edges of said lower edge portion being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward each other in opposite directions to seat on similarly inclined ends of said slot to position the packet in the slot with its body portion projecting laterally from the shaft.

4. .A film packet for photographing teeth in a patients mouth comprising a sensitized film enclosed in a protective covering, said packet including a body portion and a lower edge portion adapted to seat snugly in an elongated slot in a supporting shaft, at least one end edge of said lower edge portion being inclined downwardly and. inwardly to seat on a similarly inclined end of said slot to position the packet in the slot with its body portion projecting laterally from the shaft.

ISADORE SHAPIRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,571,145 Schlappi Jan. 26, 1926 2,021,190 Malkasian Nov. 19, 1935 2,090,933 Bolin Aug. 24, 1937 2,392,109 Vlock Jan. 1, 1946 

